Fire burning south of Peachland now contained, crew focus shifts to cleanup and patrol – Peachland News

UPDATE: 19:50

The BC Wildfire Service says firefighters dispatched to a six-hectare fire south of Peachland will focus on cleanup and patrol operations as the fire is now contained.

The fire is located about two miles south of Peachland on the west side of Highway 97.

Taylor Colman, BCWS fire information officer, said the fire is not expected to grow any further based on current fuel and weather conditions.

“What we’re doing now is more of a cleanup and patrol operation rather than suppression, just making sure there’s no hot spots or smoke,” Colman said. “Then, depending on the outcome, when those operations are completed, we will change (the fire’s status) to under control.”

Colman said crews will not stay on the fire overnight.

Three BCWS initial attack crews, aircraft, water skimmers and a helicopter responded to the fire Wednesday, along with three contract crews in the afternoon.

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UPDATE: 17:39

The BC Wildfire Service says the six-hectare fire burning south of Peachland is now contained.

This means that the fire is designed based on fuel, weather conditions and resource availability to stay within its current perimeter.

The fire is located about two miles south of Peachland on the west side of Highway 97.

Early Wednesday, BCWS said crews were working on the south and north flanks with the goal of completely surrounding the fire.

Three initial fire crews were working the fire, assisted by members of the Peachland and Summerland fire departments.

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UPDATE: 16:05

While the BC Wildfire Service recently increased the estimated size of the fire burning south of Peachland to six hectares, this indicates more accurate mapping rather than rapid growth.

BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Taylor Colman says the more accurate estimate of the size came after a helicopter was able to fly above the fire and map the fire more accurately.

The fire, which appeared to be breaking out near Highway 97 at Brent Road, appeared to be burning less heavily Wednesday afternoon, with less smoke coming out of the area.

“Screamers and helicopters really helped deliver water and keep fire behavior to a minimum; it’s going well there,” Colman said.

“Crews are working on the south and north flanks of the fire off Highway 97, approaching it from both sides. It’s burning down the slope and kind of in a gully there, so it kind of got stuck there.”

Colman says ground crews will work to completely surround the fire, but he doesn’t know exactly when that will happen.

There are currently three initial attack crews of three or four firefighters working on the fire. Members of the Peachland and Summerland fire departments are also assisting.

Air tankers and water skimmers that were used on the fire earlier in the day have since left, while a helicopter remains at the scene supporting ground crews.

Interstate 97 was closed several hours earlier in the day, but has since been reopened to one lane of alternate traffic.

While the cause of the fire is believed to be human-caused, BCWS says its exact cause remains under investigation.

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UPDATE: 14:52

The fire burning south of Peachland has grown to about six hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Air support has been pounding the fire all morning after the fire first broke out around 9 a.m. on Highway 97 near Brent Road.

About eight BC Wildfire Service firefighters are currently working on the fire, along with members of the Peachland and Summerland fire departments.

A helicopter and water skimmer are still assigned to the fire, while air tankers “met their targets” earlier, BCWS says.

While the freeway was completely closed for the morning, it recently reopened to one-lane alternate traffic.

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UPDATE 14:20

Interstate 97 has been reopened to one lane of traffic at the scene of a fire south of Peachland.

The fire three kilometers south of the community on Brent Road is still estimated at 1.3 hectares.

Fire activity has subsided considerably after a heavy attack by firefighting aircraft.

The fire is still classified as out of control.

It appears that the fire started on the side of the road and moved up the mountain.

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UPDATE 13:20

Interstate 97 remains closed in both directions at the scene of a fire south of Peachland.

DriveBC says the next closure update will be at 2 p.m

A driver stuck on the highway says RCMP on the scene say they hope the highway can be opened to alternate one-lane traffic within the next hour, but that timeline remains unconfirmed.

Firefighting aircraft with the BC Wildfire Service remain above the fire, which continues to move slowly up the hill and away from the highway.

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UPDATE: 12:10 p.m

The newly started fire burning south of Peachland has grown to an estimated 1.3 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

The fire appeared to have started near Highway 97 near Brent Road just after 9 a.m. and quickly spread up the hill.

The BC Wildfire Service responded with a large contingent of air support, including aircraft, water skimmers and a helicopter, along with ground crews from BCWS and the Peachland and Summerland fire departments.

Highway 97 remains completely closed between Brent and Renfrew roads. It is expected to remain closed until the afternoon.

BCWS says the fire is believed to be human caused, but the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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UPDATE: 11:40 am

The recent wildfire south of Peachland drew a large response from the BC Fire Service and nearby municipal fire departments.

BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Cassidy Martin says two aircraft are responding to the fire burning near Brent Road, along with seven skimmers, a helicopter and two initial attack crews of about eight firefighters.

But members of both the Peachland and Summerland fire departments are also helping to fight the new fire.

The fire is estimated to be about 0.75 hectares in size and appears to have started on the side of Highway 97. Martin says the fire is showing both Class 1 and Class 2 behavior – a smoldering ground fire to a low force surface.

While there are homes located on the east side of Highway 97 across from where the fire is burning, BCWS says no homes are threatened by the fire on the west side of the highway.

The motorway remains closed in both directions between Brent and Renfrew roads and motorists are being turned away. It is expected to be closed until the afternoon, with AIM Roads saying no further update on the closure is expected until 4pm.

Those wishing to drive between Peachland and Summerland will need to detour on Highway 97C to Highway 5A or Highway 33 to Highway 3.

While the fire is believed to be human-caused, BCWS has not said how it is suspected to have been started.

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UPDATE: 11 am

A number of aircraft are responding to the fire burning south of Peachland on Wednesday.

According to public flight data, a bird-watching aircraft and a tank have been over the fire so far, while a helicopter is also attacking it.

A group of skimmer planes also appear to be en route from Kamloops.

The BC Wildfire Service recently estimated the fire to be approximately 0.75 hectares. It is believed to be man-made.

The fire broke out near Brent Road around 9 a.m. near Highway 97 and quickly spread up the hill.

Highway 97 remains completely closed between Brent and Renfrew roads.

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UPDATE 10:25

A bird-dog aircraft from the BC Wildfire Service is now over the fire.

A tanker from the Penticton base is also on its way.

The fire continues to burn on the hillside away from the highway. It’s burning toward the scar of the 2018 Mt. Aeneas fire, which may slow the fire’s growth while crews mobilize.

Highway 97 remains closed in both directions.

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UPDATE: 9:55 am

A wildfire closed Highway 97 south of Peachland Wednesday morning and BC Wildfire Service crews are on the way.

The fire broke out close to the motorway shortly after 9am near Brent Road and appears to be moving up the hill. Photos and videos from the scene show the trees starting to light up.

DriveBC reports the highway has been closed in both directions between Brent and Renfrew roads.

BCWS fire information officer Cassidy Martin says an initial attack crew of four is en route to the fire and will have more information when firefighters arrive.

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ORIGINAL: 9:37 am

Reports are coming in of a grass fire off Highway 97 near Brent Road south of Peachland.

A Peachland witness called Castanet and said he saw gray smoke billowing from his vantage point of the highway shortly before 9:30 a.m.

Other reports indicate firefighters from several communities in the area are on the scene.

DriveBC reports that crews are on the road to help with traffic control and that traffic is being affected in both directions.

? #BCHwy97 – Reports of a brush fire south of #PeachlandBC near Brent Rd, affecting traffic in both directions. Crews are on the way to help. pic.twitter.com/EqXmD4PnpL

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) July 17, 2024

Castanet has a reporter to find out more.

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